Category Archives: That’s My Job

Welp…

Just found out today that my theater job won’t be back until next YEAR (2022) at the earliest…and I’m gonna have to be okay with that.

However, that most likely means that by the time it comes back…I may not be able to do it…since I’ll probably be working full time somewhere that won’t let me take the time off to work on a theater show…

And I’m gonna have to be okay with that.

I’ll keep working on my book series (Book 2 is now available for pre-order btw…I’ve been dropping the ball on promotion because losing my job and still being unable to get scheduled for a vaccine and searching for a new job and realizing that I’ve wasted so much time spiraling deeper and deeper into anxiety and depression…make it VERY difficult to get excited for pretty much everything).

I’ve started randomly streaming on Twitch trying to distract myself from the aforementioned spiral…though I can only handle 2 hours and not every day streaming. (If you’re curious, I play Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, not well, because I’m obsessed with that game since Monster Hunter World is done with new monsters and Monster Hunter Rise is releasing later this month)

But overall…I’m just trying to hold up the small bit of positivity I can find.

So, here’s a link if you’re interested in pre-ordering my new book (CLICK HERE)…but if you aren’t that’s fine, too. If you want to check out the FIRST book in the series here’s a link to that, too (CLICK HERE).

And if you care/know about Twitch and are tempted to see someone play a game poorly with meh commentary…you can check out my stream HERE. As of right now I stream Monday & Wednesday at 2pm pst and Friday & Saturday at 7pm pst. Since I learned of my job’s fate…I may start streaming more in hopes to maybe make it a viable way to make some side money….just depends on what happens with the work situation.

ANYBUT!!! Sorry for a not interesting/funny post…but I needed to get this out to help me process that even though everything ELSE is going back to normal….my entire career path has been basically blown to smithereens…but again…..it’s mostly my own fault.

BUT I’ll survive. I’ll find a new job and I’ll keep trucking along.

I miss the music

March 1st was the last time I worked in the theater. And I’m going to get a little serious here, for a minute.

I miss the music. I miss my friend(s). No need to ask me. What I prefer. I choose the music.

Any Curtains fans reading? Anyone? For those not in the know…Curtains a musical. I made a musical reference in my serious post.

Anybut, I wish there was something that can be done. I wish there was some magic spell all the artists who are out of work could cast…pun intended.

Cause I guarantee, every artist is doing what needs to be done…but a small majority seems unable to put aside politics and their own egos to buck up, do what needs to be done, so we can ALL get back to work.

But that’s just my opinion…

>vomitting at the cliche line I typed<

And to add to this serious post:

Perhaps when we all get back to work, we can accept the truth that there is no reason casting has to be so…lacking in diversity. Historical accuracy be damned. If someone fits the role, they FIT THE ROLE! If we can suspend belief to accept people randomly breaking out into song and dance, I think we’re ready (and long overdue) to suspend our belief in other things as well.

Once More the Curtain Comes Down

Another show done…

The first show of the season is done. Another bittersweet closing. The cast was good, the crew (the three of us there were) were good, the show was good, and…well, that’s pretty much it.

It was good.

Tomorrow I continue what I’ve fallen behind on.

TO BE CONTINUED!!!! Not this. The things I’ve let fall behind.

Ready Steady…Lights Go

My job is ending soon…

The reason I’ve fallen behind on my spooky drawings has been due to a ramp up of work.

The musical I’m working on closes this weekend and when I’m not there I’ve been helping to build and restore a second show.

September through early November is my busiest time. Then I get December and January off.

Just gotta make it through this show and whatever else the other show needs and then I get some rest.

Sort of.

Deck the Seasons

The time has come once again…

Okay, maybe not once again for this blog, but once again in my LIFE for Christmas to come tooooooo early!

For some extra cash, I help repair, build, rejuvenate props for a Christmas touring show for another theater. I mean full on painting, making jump ropes out of tinsel, and wrapping presents for nearly two months.

The pay is good. For what it is and it gets me through November, December, and January (the theater company I work for is dark during those months).

But it’s a CHRISTMAS show that I’m prepping before Halloween is even within reach.

I’m already not so much a fan of the Christmas atmosphere (the only exception is OF COURSE Christmas at Disneyland cause that shit is fucking magical!).

Anybut, just gotta get through this show (rehearsals started Monday and we open two weeks from Friday…eek!) and Rudolph work and then I’ll get a small break.

So Many Guitars

Rehearsal Day 1…

The next show has begun. The actors double as the musicians and today was music day.

Which means there were a LOT of guitars in the room. 5 guitars being played, 3 sitting to the side. One bass guitar. 2 Mandolins. A violin. An accordion. A small drum set. A piano. AND a melodica.

So many instruments, but definitely a LOT of guitars.

Best part:

They’re all amazeballs players! This show is going to be fun to listen to, but we’ll see how much fun it is to run…

Anybut, rehearsal day 1 in the BAG!!

P.S- I’m writing this as they’re rehearsing…but don’t tell my boss…who’s sitting right next to me…

UPDATE: There’s also a banjo.

Once More Unto the Breach

Rehearsals are starting again…

The next show I’m working on starts rehearsals tomorrow (Monday). Unlike the last show, this one is smaller in cast size and rehearsal time. Instead of three weeks, we’re only rehearsing two weeks.

I mentioned in a previous post about the pre-rehearsal work. But tomorrow is the real stuff. The actors/musicians are going to be there and it’ll be time to do some real work.

I’m not as familiar with this show as I was of the last one, but that makes it more interesting for me. Although, the accents used for this show are pretty thick so we’ll see how well I can follow along.

I mean I have the script, but I don’t like staring at it too much.

Anybut, I’ve been sticking pretty well to posting every day, but we’ll see how much longer I can keep it up.

If I can reach 100 days I’ll be happy…so I guess as long as I can keep this up for…two more days? I’ll reach that goal.

Turning, Turning

Pre-rehearsal work is happening…

The next show I’m working on doesn’t officially start rehearsals for almost a week. But today I was back in the rehearsal hall…programming the turntable!

That’s right, they trust me to program that sucker! And we got 3 cues done!

Okay, I know that doesn’t sound impressive, but to be fair it was also a spacing and choreography pre-rehearsal. There were actors there (none of the ones cast in the show) so the director and choreographer could see the moving pieces with the turntable before the actual actors arrive.

It’s gonna be a fun show. It’s smaller, but sometimes the smaller shows are the more impressive ones.

So excited!

All By Myself

Two days off…

Now that the show I’ve been working on for six weeks has closed…it’s been lonely.

I miss the cast. I miss the crew. I miss the show………BUT!! I don’t think I had another week in me.

This show wasn’t as bad as the last show I did. That show I was done after week 2 of performances. But there’s still a sense of “ready to move on”.

The next show is going to be smaller. The crew is going to be four or five people including me and the assistant stage manager (NOT including costumes and wigs). The cast is still a pretty good size….13, but there’s only one set with nothing moving….except for the floor (because it’s going to be on a turntable).

The more interesting thing (for me anybut) is the cast is almost all brand new faces, except for 2. Though it makes me a little nervous, too. The last time we did a show with mostly new faces……the actors almost got into fights every day….

ANYbut, I’m not going to think about that, but think about the next show in a positive light. I get a brief break before that show, about 3 weeks.

POSITIVITY SHALL BE MY MIDDLE NAME!!!!

Performance #12 & STRIKE!!

I know it’s today….

The end of the show! Final performance!!

And this show was ready to be over. A few more pieces fell off props, timing was off, set moves were late or almost forgotten….

She (the show, the beast, the fantasy) is done.

Strike (for me) went quick with a few hiccups, but overall it was great. Out at 6:30pm.

There was an after party in the lobby….that moved to a hotel, but I didn’t partake. I’m not one for those kinds of things. I’ll see everyone again, plus I wouldn’t really feel part of it. This show, I feel, really was more of an ensemble show and they shared moments I don’t want to interfere with.

And, again, I’ll see most of them again. I’m not going anywhere.

But now I’m on a break until September when we start rehearsals for the next show.

I’ll still be posting every day until the 31st of August….and maybe beyond that…we shall see…